Over hundreds of people have been killed after a massive blast rocked Gaza’s al-Ahli Arab hospital on Tuesday night. According to the Hamas-run Health Ministry, at least 500 people were killed. It blamed an Israeli airstrike, while the Israeli military blamed a rocket misfired by other Palestinian militants. This is said to be the deadliest Israeli airstrike in five wars fought since 2008.
In the past few days, hundreds of Palestinians had taken refuge in the several hospitals of the Gaza City, hoping they would be spared bombardment after Israel ordered all residents of the city and surrounding areas to evacuate to the southern Gaza Strip.
Following the incident, some 350 casualties have been rushed to Gaza City’s main hospital, al-Shifa, which was already overwhelmed with wounded from other strikes.
US President to visit Israel today
US President Joe Biden will reach Israel today to show solidarity with the people of the country in the aftermath of the terrorist attack by Hamas. In a statement, the US President said, “I am outraged and deeply saddened by the explosion at the Al Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza, and the terrible loss of life that resulted.”
Biden also spoke with King Abdullah II of Jordan, and Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel over the incident. He also directed his national security team to continue gathering information about what exactly happened.
Joe Biden’s trip to Jordan cancelled
The US President has to cancel his trip to Jordan for a meeting with leaders of Jordan, Egypt, and Palestine after the Palestinian Authority cancelled the planned Amman summit. Speaking to al-Mamlaka TV, a state-run network, Jordan’s foreign minister Ayman Safadi said that the war and ongoing conflict have pushed the region to the brink. The cancellation reflects an increasingly volatile situation that will test the limits of American influence in the region.
(With inputs from agencies)